title: Irrational beliefs, optimism, pessimism, and psychological distress: a preliminary examination of differential effects in a college population.
abstract: The present study compared the effects of irrational beliefs measured by the Survey of Personal Beliefs (SPB) and optimism and pessimism as measured by the revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R) on depressive and anxious symptoms 6 weeks later. Results of analysis of variances for both measures of psychological distress indicated a significant main effect for pessimism only. Implications for Ellis Rational Emotive Therapy are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights 41099, USA.
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Bridewell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D013483:Superstitions / Q000523:psychology*; D013694:Temperament